Forest Service Could Outsource P-R Jobs

Laramie, Wy – Private firms could soon be handling PRwork for the U-S Forest Service. That's the warning from the watchdog group Public Employees forEnvironmental Responsibility. Documents provided by the group show the federal agency isstudying whether "competitive sourcing" would make sense -- interms of efficiency and cost savings -- within its communicationsfield. Competitive sourcing, essentially, is putting certainpositions and responsibilities out for bids. A federal union representing Forest Service employees says about700 positions will be looked at. The union says the Forest Serviceexpects to pick 100 of those to do "competitive sourcingcompetitions."